Responding to Spiritual Needs
Adult Education
We have Sunday School each week before the worship service. We meet at 9:30 a.m. to study God’s word and learn to apply it to our daily lives. Visitors are welcome anytime so come check it out!
Children’s Church
Volunteers from our Christian Education Board provide Children’s Church and a Nursery. Bring your kids along on Sunday morning and join us!
Ministry at Senior Care Homes
Our ministry team brings a worship program to Heritage Woods and Helia Healthcare once a month. Contact the church office for details.
Bible Study
We have a weekly study of God’s word on Wednesdays at 4:00 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. This is an opportunity for fellowship and to delve deeper into the Bible. You are always welcome!
Responding to Physical Needs
Food Pantry & Warming Center
We support the local Ministerial Alliance Food Pantry and the Benton Warming Center with regular donations to serve those in need.
Brown Bag Ministry
Many parents in the Benton community rely on the free school lunch program to meet the nutritional needs of their children. But on the weekends, these children often don’t have enough to eat. First Baptist sends “brown bags” of non-perishable food items home with these children to give them some extra food for the weekend.
Beyond Our Local Community
First Baptist Church also supports ministry needs throughout the world. Each month, we collect funds for these missionaries: Larry & Becky Stanton (Murphysboro, IL natives) serving in Hungary, and Craig & Allison Fowler who serve in Ethiopia.
Our four major international offerings are listed below. You can financially support any of these ministries by sending your gift to First Baptist Church of Benton, 201 S. Main St., Benton, IL 62812. Please make check payable to FBC and note in the memo line which ministry your gift supports.
— America for Christ: This offering is for homeland ministry and missions in the United States and Puerto Rico.
— One Great Hour of Sharing: This effort supports worldwide relief and development. OGHS provides funds for disaster relief, hunger programs and a variety of development projects in the US and around the world.
— World Mission Offering: In its entirety, this offering supports our overseas mission programs through International Ministries. See highlights from missionaries: Alise and Mark Juanes, Thailand; Ricardo Mayol-Bracero, Latin America: Ketly and Vital Pierre, Dominican Republic.
— Retired Ministers & Missionaries Offering: This offering says thank you to the retired ministers and missionaries of our denomination. Portions of the offering are also held in reserve as an emergency assistance fund for the retirees.